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(Provided by Pacific Historic Parks)
The attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, marked a pivotal moment in world history. Our nation joined the free people of the world in battle against the forces of tyranny that sought to enslave the masses and impose a new world order of blind hatred and oppression. The long struggle that ensued came to a merciful end on September 2, 1945. As the guns went silent the world awoke to a new reality.
The wreckage of the USS Arizona remains as a monument to the events of World War II and to the legacy of those who sacrificed their lives to preserve our most cherished values and secure victory. The sculpture of the Tree of Life, chiseled in the side of the USS Arizona Memorial reminds us that the ultimate prize of victory was not just the cessation of arms, but an expression of hope for the realization of a lasting peace. In 1941, our nation "Remembered Pearl Harbor" in order to defeat a determined foe. Now we remember to embrace, the promise of a renewed commitment to hope and that our generation, and the generations to follow will always honor the sacrifice of our veterans by tirelessly striving to maintain and cherish the legacy of hope.